Watch Death in the Terminal

Death in the Terminal is a powerful documentary that explores the harrowing events of a terrorist attack that took place in a crowded bus terminal in the Israeli town of Beersheba in 2015. Directed by Tali Shemesh and Asaf Sudry, the film provides a minute-by-minute reconstruction of the attack using surveillance footage, security cameras, and mobile phones, giving viewers a chilling and visceral experience of the panic, confusion, and violence that ensued.

The film begins by setting the scene and introducing some of the people who were present in the terminal on the day of the attack. We see families, travelers, soldiers, and civilians going about their business, unaware that they will soon be caught up in a nightmare. We also hear the voice of the terrorist, a young Bedouin man named Muhanad Al-Okbi, who recorded a video message shortly before his attack, in which he declares his allegiance to ISIS and his intention to kill as many Jews as he can.

The first few minutes of the film are relatively calm and uneventful, as we watch people running errands, chatting on their phones, and waiting for buses. But suddenly, everything changes. We see a man rushing in, looking around, and then pulling out a gun. The sound of gunfire erupts, and people start screaming and running for cover. The camera follows the movements of the attackers and the victims, presenting a chaotic and disorienting panorama of violence and fear.

What is particularly striking about Death in the Terminal is the way it portrays the complexity and ambiguity of the situation. Unlike many other documentaries about terrorism, the film does not reduce the events to a simplistic narrative of good versus evil, us versus them. Instead, it shows how the lines between the two become blurred and fused in the heat of the moment. We see Israeli soldiers shooting at the terrorist, who is hiding and firing back. We see innocent bystanders getting caught in the crossfire, sometimes becoming accidental heroes, sometimes being mistaken for terrorists. We see the police and the emergency services trying to cope with the chaos, while struggling to distinguish friend from foe.

Throughout the film, we hear from people who were present at the time of the attack, as well as from experts in terrorism, psychology, and law enforcement. They offer insights into the motivations, tactics, and consequences of this type of violence, and also into the human emotions and reactions that it triggers. We hear from a woman who survived the attack but lost her husband and son, and who speaks movingly about the love and courage that sustained her. We hear from a security guard who heroically confronted the terrorist, but who also experienced guilt and trauma afterwards. We hear from a criminologist who analyzes the patterns and strategies of terrorist attacks, and who warns about the dangers of overreacting or oversimplifying.

One of the most powerful aspects of Death in the Terminal is the way it uses technology to create a multi-layered and immersive experience for the viewer. The film is structured as a series of chapters, each one focusing on a different aspect of the attack, and each one using a different type of footage. Some chapters use security cameras to show the overall layout of the terminal and the movements of the people. Other chapters use mobile phones to show the perspectives and reactions of the victims and the bystanders. And still, other chapters use audio recordings and animations to convey the thoughts and feelings of the people involved.

This use of technology not only makes the film more engaging and informative but also raises important ethical and philosophical questions about the role of surveillance, media, and memory in contemporary society. The film includes a segment in which a group of survivors and witnesses watch the footage of the attack and share their reactions and reflections. Some of them express shock and sorrow at the footage and wonder whether it is appropriate or helpful to show it. Others argue that it is crucial to preserve the memories and the lessons of the attack and to confront the realities of terrorism.

Overall, Death in the Terminal is a riveting and thought-provoking documentary that challenges our assumptions and our emotions about terrorism. It offers no easy answers or solutions but instead invites us to engage with the complexity and the humanity of the problem. Whether we are Israelis or Palestinians, Jews, or Arabs, Muslims, or Christians, the film reminds us that we are all vulnerable to violence and fear, and that we all have a responsibility to seek peace and justice in our world.